System for untwisting and straightening ends of a twisted pair cable

ABSTRACT

A system for untwisting and straightening the ends of a twisted pair cable before inserting them into a network connector. The system includes a first ring including a cutting blade located on a top end, a second ring having a plurality of grooves running from a first side of a top end to a second side of a top end, and a third ring including a plurality of teeth protruding from a top end. The first ring, the second ring, and the third ring are designed to be worn on fingers of a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a system for installing electronic cables in computers and telephone networks. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for untwisting and straightening the ends of the twisted pair cable.

Twisted pair cables are currently used for transmitting electronic signals at very high rates on data circuits. The twisted pair cables are connected to the network connector. Conventional twisted pair cables include four twisted conductors inside an outer insulation jacket. The twisted pair cables need to be untwisted and straightened out before joining them to the network connector. It has been the practice for the technician to remove the outer jacket insulation from an end portion of the twisted pair cable, then to straighten out the protruding twisted wires into a flat lateral configuration, and then to cut off the protruding wires and insert them into the network connector. Unfortunately, the process of untwisting and straightening the twisted pair cable is time consuming and requires the use of several tools that keeps both hands of the technician in use.

As can be seen, there is a need for a system that allows a technician to easily untwist and straighten the ends of the twisted pair cable before inserting them into a network connector. In addition, there is a need for a system that allows the technician to have his/her hands free while untwisting and straightening the ends of the twisted pair cable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a system includes a first ring including a cutting blade located on a top end; a second ring having a plurality of grooves running from a first side of a top end to a second side of a top end; a third ring including a plurality of teeth protruding from a top end; and the first ring, the second ring, and the third ring are designed to be worn on fingers of a user.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a system for untwisting and straightening ends of the twisted pair cable according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a third ring of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the comb ring of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a first ring of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the first ring of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a second ring of the system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the second ring of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a system for untwisting and straightening ends of a twisted pair cable before inserting them into a network connector.

FIG. 1 shows a system 10 for untwisting and straightening ends of a twisted pair cable (not shown) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The system 10 may include a first ring 12, a second ring 14, and a third ring 16. The first ring 12, the second ring 14, and the third ring 16 may be worn on either hand (not shown) of the user. The first ring 12, the second ring 14, and the third ring 16 may be made of a sturdy material, for example, plastic, resin, metal, or composite. The first ring 12, the second ring 14, and the third ring 16 may be made, for example, by molding or extrusion.

The twisted pair cable (not shown) may be, for example, a category 5 cable (Cat5), a category 5e cable (Cat5e), or a category 6 cable (Cat6).

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the third ring 16 may be designed to be worn on the thumb (not shown) of the user (not shown). The third ring 16 may include a top end 36, a first sidewall 34 a, and a second sidewall 34 b. A plurality of teeth 24 may be protruding from the top end 36. The plurality of teeth 24 may separate the individual wires (not shown) of the twisted pair cable (not shown) by placing the individual wires between two adjacent teeth 24. The number of teeth 24 may depend on the type of the twisted pair cable (not shown). The third ring 16 may have, for example, eight teeth. The teeth 24 may be distributed across the top end 36 of the third ring 16. Each of the teeth 24 may include edges having a rounded, triangular, rectangular or square shape. The first sidewall 34 a and the second sidewall 34 b may have a curved shape. The first sidewall 34 a may include a tip 28 a. The second sidewall 34 b may include a tip 28 b. The tip 28 a and the tip 28 b may be separated by a gap 38. The size of the third ring 16 may be adjusted depending on the size of the finger (not shown) by opening or closing the gap 38.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4-5, the first ring 12 may be designed to be worn on the thumbs (not shown) of the user. The first ring 12 may have a top end 40, a first sidewall 30 a, a second sidewall 30 b, a first prong 20 a protruding from the top end 40, and a second prong 20 b protruding from the top end 40. The first prong 20 a and the second prong 20 b may be separated by a gap 25. The gap 25 may serve as a guide for the wires (not shown) of the twisted pair cable. A slit 22 may be formed on the first prong 20 a and on the second prong 20 b. A cutting blade 18 may be placed longitudinally between and in alignment with slits 22. A cutting blade 18 may be used to cut an outer jacket (not shown) of the twisted pair cable. The first sidewall 30 a and the second sidewall 30 b may have a curved shape. The first sidewall 30 a may include a tip 42 a. The second sidewall 30 b may include a tip 42 b. The tip 42 a and the tip 42 b may face each other and may be separated by a small gap 44.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 6-7, the second ring 14 may be designed to be worn on the index finger (not shown). In use, the second ring 14 may be placed on the hand opposite to the hand having the third ring 16. The second ring 14 may include a top end 46, a first prong 32 a protruding from a first side 49 a of the top end, a second prong 32 b protruding from a second side 49 b of the top end 46, and a plurality of grooves 26 running from the first side 49 a to the second side 49 b of the top end 46. The plurality of groves 26

may be used to keep the wires of the twisted pair cable separated by placing each wire on one of the grooves 26. The depth and width of the grooves 26 may depend on the range of wire gauges used. The first prong 32 a and the second prong 32 b may have a semi-circular shape. The first prong 32 a may include a tip 48 a. The second prong 32 b may include a second tip 48 b. The tip 48 a may be aligned with the second side 49 b of the top end 46. The tip 48 b may be aligned with the first side 49 a of the top end 46. A gap 50 may separate the first side 49 a from the tip 48 b and the second side 49 b from the tip 48 a. The size of the second ring 16 may be adjusted depending on the size of the finger (not shown) by opening or closing the gap 50.

The user (not shown) may place the first ring 12, the second ring 14, and the third ring 16 on his/her fingers (not shown). The position and orientation of the first ring 12, the second ring 14, and the third ring 16 on the fingers may depend on the user's preferences.

Using the second ring 14 and the third ring 16 together, the user may separate, for example, four twisted wires into eight individual straight wires by using pinching, gripping, and combing motions.

In some embodiments, the first ring 12, the second ring 14, and the third ring 16 may be used on the same hand.

The system 10 may be used with Voice over the Internet Protocol (VOIP) connections.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for untwisting and straightening ends of a twisted pair cable comprising: a first ring including a cutting blade located on a top end; a second ring having a plurality of grooves running from a first side of a top end to a second side of the top end; and a third ring including a plurality of teeth protruding from a top end, wherein the first ring, the second ring, and the third ring are designed to be worn on fingers of a user.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the third ring includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall, each sidewall includes a tip, the tip of the first sidewall and the tip of the second sidewall are separated by a gap.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the third ring is an adjustable size ring.
 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the teeth of the third ring include rounded shaped tips.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first ring includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a first prong protruding from the top end, and a second prong protruding from the top end, and the cutting blade is placed longitudinally between the first prong and the second prong.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second ring includes a first prong protruding from the first side of the top end and a second prong protruding from the second side of the top end, the first prong and the second prong have a semi-circular shape, the first prong includes a first tip, the second prong includes a second tip, the first tip is aligned with the second side of the top end, the second tip is aligned with the first side of the top end.
 7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the first tip and the second tip are separated by a gap.
 8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the second ring is an adjustable size ring. 